Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Punch Card Probe

American History Museum

Punch Card Probe
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

Description

This cylindrical metal stainless steel rod is about 8" long and resembles a crochet hook. The metal is serrated along the middle part of the rod. One end is hooked, the other is flattened and U-shaped. The donor worked with tabulating machines and then computer equipment from the 1940s into at least the 1960s.
Reportedly the hook was used to line up punched cards and the flattened end to complete holes that had not punched properly.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Benjamin S. Mulitz

date made

ca 1950
1950, roughly

ID Number

2006.3088.01

nonaccession number

2006.3088

catalog number

2006.3088.01

Object Name

punch card probe

Physical Description

stainless steel (overall material)

Measurements

overall: .2 cm x 20.3 cm x .2 cm; 3/32 in x 8 in x 3/32 in

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Computers & Business Machines
Tabulating Equipment
Punch Cards

Data Source

National Museum of American History

web subject

Mathematics

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-876d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_1427497

Discover More

A black, metal card punch. Its base is triangular and holds a cream colored plate marked like the cards it punches

From Herman Hollerith to IBM

Cream colored punch card propped up against a brown box

Punch Cards for Data Processing

arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use